Ben finished basketball today. Last game of the six week season. Six practices. Six games. Much complaining. Ben has enjoyed practice but not the games. He likes dribbling and trying to steal the ball. He likes passing. He doesn't like catching. He doesn't like shooting the ball. He doesn't even seem to like running. He runs stiffly; his elbows and knees don't work together well and he kind of falls into the floor every time he takes a step. Very jarring. He doesn't pay attention during the games. Too much going on or too little. There are five kids to each team and three of the kids hog the ball. As soon as they get the ball they run like mad to the other end, sometimes they even dribble, to try for a wild shot. About half the time they even make baskets. There are two other kids who just pass the ball back and forth to each other. One kid, Payton, came up to me during the game and said, "Ben needs to practice more. He doesn't even run."

So, sadly, the other kids don't throw the ball to Ben because they don't think he can play. Which, arguably, he can't. But the coach has been just amazing. He played college ball and then later coached it. He worked hard to make sure Ben got a chance in the game to dribble down the court and throw the ball in during turn-overs. If he coaches again, we're definitely going to try to get onto his team.

Anyhow. Today was the last game of the season. Each parent paid six dollars to get the kids trophies. Ben hasn't let go of his since he got it. He reads the plaque over and over again: Sonics. 2007. Ben Serdy. (By the way, the team name is "Sonics" because we had the same color jerseys as the Sonics). He held onto the trophy as we drove home. As we walked to the mailbox. As we sat on the couch and watched TV. He read the plaque. He felt the ball (curiously rough, like the real thing). He showed us how his basketball trophy guy kept shooting baskets.

And tonight, before bed, Ben placed his trophy right under his night light so he could see it all night long.

Maybe next time he'll be more interested in playing a team sport if we tell him he'll get a trophy at the end!